Sharra & Alex | Bridal Session at ThanksgivinG POint Gardens

Sharra and Alex had the most beautiful bridal session in late April at the gardens at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah. It was a big change from the  snowy engagements we did earlier in the year at Jordan Pines in Big Cottonwood Canyon, but just as magical. The tulip festival was going on, so there were flowers everywhere, and all the trees were in full bloom, as well! To top it all off, Sharra had the sweetest surprise for Alex at the end of the session - a gift from her father, who recently passed away, for Alex - scroll down to see it!

I never get tired of photographing first looks. My brides are always so excited and my grooms almost can't stand it. Capturing their reaction when they see their bride for the first time never gets old.

Sharra told me she didn't really love her dress until she tried it on with the long, cathedral veil, and I can see why. That long, lace-trimmed veil added such elegance to her overall bridal look, and it was stunning to photograph.

Sharra's bouquet was filled with white and cream roses and ranunculus, with cascading green and gray greenery. 

Another special touch I loved was Sharra's ring. Alex designed it! The yellow gold is repeated in the bands around Alex's ring, and the antique design looks so beautiful on Sharra's slender fingers.

Alex arrived just a bit earlier than Sharra, so before the first look, we fit in a few portraits of just the groom. Alex made my job easy - he has the most easy, carefree smile and laughed at all my bad jokes.

These bride-only portraits of Sharra in her gorgeous gown are some of my favorites. I had to catch my breath when we set her up for a photo of the back of the dress and veil. And her eyes were so gorgeous in the light of the setting sun! She did all her own makeup, and it looked so good!

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One thing I love about taking photos at the Thanksgiving Point gardens is the variety - there are flowers, so many trees, hidden little paths, footbridges, and so much more around every corner!

At the end of the session, Sharra told Alex she had something special for him, and they had a sweet moment together. Sharra's dad recently passed away and she's from a family of all girls. When each of her sister's boyfriends asked Sharra's dad for his daughter's hand in marriage, he would give them a key off of his keychain that represented the key to his daughter's heart. Shortly before passing away, Sharra's dad gave her the key he would have given to Alex and asked her to write down what he would have said to Alex. Sharra presented Alex with the key and letter at the end of our session together, giving Alex the key to her heart. It was a beautiful moment and one I was so honored to capture for them to remember forever. 

This is a very special picture. In it is the key Sharra's dad would have given Alex to represent giving his daughter's heart to Alex's keeping. Sharra and Alex are also wearing their wedding rings, to show their commitment to each other. And the opal ring on Sharra's right hand is a ring her father gave her.